As the wars of Napoleon ravage Europe, chaos and fear reign and the darkness that once clung to the shadows has been emboldened. Supernatural creatures – vampires, werewolves, ghouls, and worse take advantage of the havoc, striking out at isolated farms, villages, and even military units. Whether they are pursuing some master plan or simply revelling in their newfound freedom is unknown. Most people dismiss reports of these slaughters as the rantings of madmen or the lies of deserters, but a few know better…

The Silver Bayonet is a skirmish wargame of gothic horror set during the Napoleonic Wars. Each player forms an elite band of monster hunters drawn from the ranks of one of the great powers. Riflemen, swordsmen, and engineers fight side-by-side with mystics, occultists, and even those few supernatural creatures that can be controlled or reasoned with enough to make common cause. The game can be played solo, cooperatively, or competitively, with players progressing through a series of interlinked adventures with their soldiers gaining experience and suffering grievous wounds, and their units triumphing… or falling in the face of the shadows. It is a game of action and adventure, where musket and sabre meet tooth and claw. (Osprey blurb)

I have now had the rules for over three weeks and have had a chance to read it through several times. I am now familiar with the mechanics of the game and ready to start organising my first Silver Bayonet Unit. I want to get started with a solo campaign very soon and decided to use existing figures rather than paint up the Spanish and Austrian figures that I was given with the rules. I want to base my campaigns outside of Europe and have chosen a French Army of Egypt as my first one. The second one will be in the Caribbean during the Sugar Wars when I get my Blood and Plunder figures painted.

I have enough spare figures already painted. At this stage I wanted to put together a group of figures that would allow lots of flexibility in the years to come and have selected nineteen models which is eleven more than I will need at any one time.

I should point out that Grumpy Gnome had already come up with these ideas independently in April last year on Dakka Dakka where he described this:

“In a troubled part of the Caribbean, a stretch of water that will be considered cursed by many, lies the ruins of a once great civilization. Shrouded in mist for thousands of years….what treasures and dangers lurk on, or below, the island of Atlantis?“

You may note that a figure may appear in a number of listings below, showing the flexibility of those that I have chosen.

1 Officer

The officer is your most powerful character, so you need to think how you intend to use them in conjunction with with the others in the unit and equip them accordingly. You can choose up to three characteristic increases, two attributes and up to six items of equipment.

1 Junior Officer

Like the Officer these can be drawn from any Branch of the military so any officer figure could be used, allowing you to create whatever background story you wish. You can only have one Junior Officer. They have 2 pistols and a hand or fencing weapon, and can select one item from the officer list.

3 Grenadier/Guards

The largest and strongest soldiers are recruited into the Grenadier Units and are expected to lead the attack and withstand the strongest fire. They have increased Courage, Defence and health and are equipped with a musket and cartridge box.

2 Vivanderie

Only the French can use Vivanderie. While they are not soldiers or officially part of the army they take on the same risks as the soldiers and often perform nursing duties. Those who prove themselves in battle against the supernatural are often recruited into a special unit by the Harvestmen.

They are courageous, inspiring, masters of cover and are supernatural veterans which allows it to select two pieces of special equipment in addition to their normal hand weapon.

1 Sailor

Sailors are useful to have around especially if there is a boat in the scenario. They are also expert climbers and have steady feet which is great if clues are not located on ground level.

1 Supernatural Investigator

Supernatural investigators can be found in all armies. They come from all walks of life (which as a gamer allows you lots of scope). The most famous are Vatican Los Enviados (the Envoys on Paramount is worth watching) but are not limited to the church, and can be from secret societies, and lone vampire hunters. They come with a variety of weapons but mine comes with a heavy hand weapon and a pistol. They are also Supernatural veterans and monster experts. As mine is a priest miniature it could also be used as Champion of Faith but would have to pay the additional eight points as they are not part of the standard French list.

1 Occultist

These are the creepy people who study the supernatural (or play wargames), or compile books of spells. They are often called warlocks, witches, druids or just plain crazy. My kinda guy! They are also a supernatural veteran, and if they pass a courage test can use one of three spells. They are armed with a hand weapon.

5 Infantryman

These are the standard soldier of every army in Europe and are accustomed to the horror of the battlefield. Only the best are recruited by the Harvestmen. They are are equipped with a musket and cartridge box. Every unit should at least have several of these.

1 Swordsman

While technically not in the French list you can add from any nations list a troop type that you do not have access to. The recruitment comes at an additional 8 points cost. Swordsman are excellent in close combat and come equipped with a fencing weapon, a pistol and are Indefatigable meaning the suffer less fatigue than others. The figure can also be used as an extra Veteran Hunter.

1 Veteran Hunter

Veteran hunters are your Officers right hand man, even if a Junior Officer is present. They use the same equipment and attribute selection as used by officers.

1 Sapper

The name says it all. These are the combat engineers in Napoleonic armies and are expert in the use of gunpowder explosives. The have the standard musket and cartridge box, but are equipped with a heavy weapon as well. The use of the engineering skills is scenario specific.

1 Native Scout

Using “native” inhabitants as scouts, guides and militia. They are experts at using cover and can have a variety of weapons. Mine comes with a heavy weapon.

The unit I have selected with my one hundred points includes:

• Officer;
• Grenadier (15);
• 2 Infantrymen (20);
• Vivanderie (10);
• Sapper (12);
• Occultist (20);
• Supernatural Investigator (21).

From left to right the figures are Occultist, Vivanderie, Grenadier, Supernatural Investigator, Officer, Baggage Camel and driver (more on this in a later post on the campaign), Sapper, Infantryman 1, Infantryman 2.

I will include more details, including background and equipment on each Unit member, in a few days when I have put the campaign package together.